A Mapped History of Los Angeles

Thanks to Blogging.la for linking to the Library of Congress' ultracool new online exhibit, Los Angeles Mapped.

It's a fascinating look back at the origins of our sprawling burg. Today, we need a Thomas Guide. In 1909, a large sheet of paper pretty much did the trick. Here's the background to the site:

The Library of Congress/Ira Gershwin Gallery presents historical maps of Los Angeles from the collections of the Library of Congress Geography and Map Division. These diverse works of craftsmanship, precision, and imagination provide a guide to some of the most remarkable stories of the city’s history: its discovery, its growth, and its industries, as seen by explorers, engineers, artists, residents, and boosters.

This one is probably my favorite. It's a 1916 look at Los Angeles' original 1850 boundaries (a twenty-eight square mile box) and all of the annexation and consolidation that took place after that, including the exact dates places like Hollywood and San Pedro became a part of the city. Of course, the map stops at 1916, so huge chunks of what's now Los Angeles (such as much of West L.A. and the northern part of the San Fernando Valley) are not yet included. L.A. now comprises 465 square miles.

Also included in the collection: A 1639 map of California shown as an island; a topographical map of Los Angeles in 1909; a colorful 1942 view of Los Angeles, as painted by Joseph Jacinto Mora; an extensive 1906 map of L.A.'s railways, including the famed Red Cars and Yellow Cars; a 1912 Automotive Club of Southern California map of perfect Sunday drives; a vintage 1938 map to the stars' homes; and a 1938 Bullock's Tea Room place mat featuring a whimsical map of 1934 Los Angeles.



Above, a portion of the earliest manuscript map of Los Angeles in the collections of the Library of Congress. Drawn in 1873, the map includes the Old Plaza Church (known today as "La Placita," where Maria and I were married) as well as the city plaza and "Wine Street," known today as Olvera Street.